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Curse of the Guardians #5

Stroke of Shadows

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She's his obsession... and for her, he's willing to risk it all.

The niece to one of the richest men in London, Harper's entire life has been controlled since her very first breath. Constantly under scrutiny from her ruthless family and their controversial church, she's had to fight for what little privacy she has. On the outside she was privileged and obedient, but in reality all she's ever dreamed about was breaking free from her gilded cage.

Until one night she allows her desire to take control, and taste life without expectation. One sin, and now the escape she's carefully planned for the past ten years has begun crumbling around her.

Tasked with infiltrating one of the cruellest families in the city, Sythe didn't think he'd run into any complications. Then there was her, the niece to his target, and the woman who's left him wanting more after one of the most intimate experiences of his life. Harper embodies everything he resents, yet his fixation becomes an unwelcome distraction. Until he realises they have a common goal, then that addiction burns into something more.

Amidst bloodthirsty Daemons, a fanatical faith set on eradicating all Breed, and a man lusting after power without a care for consequences, Sythe must navigate dark secrets and twisted lies to fulfil
his mission and exact revenge.

Will he complete his objective and take down the family? Or will he forsake it all for her?

Dark Paranormal Romance - Forbidden Love - Found Family - Burn the World - Fated Mates --- Stroke of Shadows is a deliciously dark paranormal romance containing explicit content, graphic violence, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Full details can be found listed inside the book. Recommended for 18+. This novel is written in British English including spelling and grammar.

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2024

114 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read

About the author

Taylor Aston White

33 books380 followers
Taylor Aston White writes deliciously dark fantasy & romance, where tension burns, secrets break, and love always wins. Based in the UK with her childhood sweetheart and their two children, she's the author of several bestselling series and loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern twists.

Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com

Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Angie.
1,406 reviews235 followers
April 7, 2025
If she chose him, he'd spend the rest of his life showing her how much she could be loved. If she didn't, then he'd become her personal shadow, protecting her from the darkness so she could thrive in the light.

4 stars!

As much as I love Taylor's writing, I have to admit the beginning half of this novel was slow for me. Other than the undeniable and forbidden attraction between Sythe and Harper, I felt like the secrets between them were dragged on for too long which left the storyline feeling stagnant. However once Sythe begins to give in to his feelings of possessiveness and his obsession for Harper, their story absolutely pulled me in, and I could not read fast enough.

I loved Sythe's nearly homicidal devotion towards Harper; he was truly willing to do anything in order to protect her and watch her flourish, which is something Harper had never experienced before. My heart broke for everything that Harper has gone through, but her strength in the face of numerous horrific events was amazing to see. Their chemistry and attraction led to some sexy and quietly intimate moments that will definitely fog up your kindle. Each book in this series continues to overlap and intersect, and I'm excited to continue this series to see where Taylor takes us next🖤

Tropes: fated mates, forbidden love, morally grey hero, abused heroine, hidden identity, protector hero, 'touch her and die' vibes, instalust, only one night, slow burn, fanatical religious cult, dark romance, STEAMY🔥

Trigger warning: sexual abuse/attempted rape (not by hero), verbal abuse, drug use, extremist religion/racism, graphic violence

*ARC provided by the author, and I voluntarily reviewed it*
Profile Image for Sara.
219 reviews15 followers
February 6, 2024
Wow! I devoured this book in one day! I was absolutely enthralled with the world Taylor Aston White created.  This book is part of the Curse of the Guardians series but the first that I read. It has an amazing, dark, gritty plot with the perfect amount of spice. The connection and chemistry between Sythe and Harper is so delicious! There are so many twists and turns and intense scenes. Be sure to check the trigger warnings! I cannot wait to go back and read the other books in this series.

I was lucky to receive this book as an arc and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
February 29, 2024
This was my first read from Taylor Aston White and it has me craving for more. Even though it's book 5 it can be read as a stand alone, and I plan on engulfing the other 4 in the series and exploring her other series as well. Her character building and development is fantastic and she quickly had me sucked in and not wanting to put the book down. I only wish it had an audio book so I can listen to it while I do all my driving.
Profile Image for Megan Welch.
33 reviews
August 4, 2024
Out of all the Guardian Books, this one has been my favorite so far!!! Sythe’s love for Harper is unbreakable. Harper’s strength by the end of the book is amazing and I’m so grateful for the change of pace/style of writing this Guardian book brought. Please read the trigger warnings for this book before you read it though as I think it has the most triggers out of all the Guardian books.
Profile Image for Shannon.
367 reviews
January 27, 2024
Another story I could literally not put down by this author! Seriously, I was reading during work breaks and during “important” meetings. I straight up could not stop.
I think one thing I really liked about this story is that there’s not much interaction with the rest of the Guardians, compared to the other books. This one has a different vibe to it because Sythe has to hide his real identity lest he blow his cover.

Harper is a pawn, used and abused by her relatives. She can’t make any move without someone watching her and reporting her back to her uncle. She’s a caged bird, longing to take flight and get free. She goes on a job for her uncle and the client decided the meeting place should be a club (because who doesn’t sell are in a club?) where she has a spicy encounter handsome stranger. I loved getting to know Harper on her journey to set herself free from her, honestly, quite terrible family.
Sythe has always been a bit of a mystery, going dark for months on end, and that little snippet in Titus’s book really made you wonder what he was doing. He has his own scars and trauma hidden away (much like all the Guardians). He contributes to the Guardians by going dark or undercover, to get more info on the dark forces around London. And before he goes dark, he spends one last night at the club where he meets a certain brunette with a streak of white in her hair.
Harper and Sythe were the perfect combination of a forbidden and dangerous romance! Because they both had reasons for not letting anyone know they liked each other. The controlled interactions/banter were perfect for them! I loved their snippy comments and how it just helped the chemistry between the two. Neither could stay away from the other for very long.

This book isn’t for the feint of heart, while it’s not as dark as some of the books I’ve read, there are still plenty of triggers to be aware of. There’s a CW list by the author at the beginning of the book.
CW: Murder (sometimes graphic, sometimes not), lots of violence (mostly graphic), implied past SA against FMC (not by MMC), attempted SA against FMC (not by MMC), (made up) religious intolerance, drug abuse, and lots of occult. There’s also a bunch of swearing and some steamy scenes.
Sub-note for SA triggers: the author takes care with these situations and nothing is described in explicit detail.

This book is fifth in the series and can be read as a standalone. I wholeheartedly recommend reading the previous books in the series for maximum enjoyment! I also recommend reading the Alice Skye series as well, it takes place prior to the Curse of the Guardians series set in the same world because it does offer a look into the Guardians, but it is not necessary to read it for understand this story. The Alice Skye series is an urban fantasy series rather than dark paranormal romance.
Profile Image for Liz.
48 reviews
January 9, 2024
Note: I was kindly provided an ARC copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review

Great 4.5* read to kick off the year 2024 in books!

So just to start off and for context: I have read all books by T.A. White set in this world and published to this day. So when I got the chance to read an ARC of Stroke of Shadows for my honest review, I was obviously ECSTATIC (and it was also my first ever ARC so yeah... you can imagine how hyped I was). Also for context: I finished this book in two sittings.

So what can I say? I am very glad to be back in the Guardians' London. I've liked all Guardian's stories so far, although my favorite one has been Kace's. That being said, Harper & Sythe's story came VERY close for me. Simply put, it has everything you could ever want for your dark fantasy romance: great chemistry, sufficient uncertainty and misunderstanding to make it interesting and tragic backstories for both characters, as well as some juicy touch her and you die action. This has been a refreshing read to get me out of a bit of a reading slump! That being said, the only thing making me a tiny bit sad was that we didn't get to see much interaction with the other Guardians as a result of the plot (you will know what I mean), but the few pages they are on more than make up for it (I'm just saying I already can't wait for Lucy's story).

A small note on reading order: Technically, this is a standalone that can be read as such. I would heartily recommend you read the other 4 books first though, especially as this is on a parallel timeline to the previous book Heart of Crimson. You'll have so much more fun like that. And if you have a little more time on your hands, you should consider reading the entirety of the Alice Skye Series before picking up The Guardians.

Now, Happy Reading!
Profile Image for The Caffeinated Grimoire.
735 reviews5 followers
February 11, 2024
Sythe and Harper ♡

I've been so excited to read Sythes' story ever since Taylor released his cover ♡ Whilst still in the same world and with Guardians this one had a different feel to it as the enemy almost felt different and I lived it. It was a refreshing change. I loved Sythe he was a sweetheart wrapped in a deadly package. And Harper 💔 we didn't truly know how much she'd suffered until more towards the end, but I was so glad she had someone like Sythe to stand by her side. I can't wait for Jaxs story because it also means we are closer to Lucy's story ♡ I was a bit sad there were no pink bum bags or glitter from Lucy this book but I loved his cameo nonetheless...

This was the first time Sythe had gone dark for the purpose of bringing down scum. His task? Bring down The church of light set on eradicating all breed. Their main funding came from one of the most well-known families in the city, one he had a personal vendetta against. Bring down Angel Beaumont, bring down the church. It seemed easy enough, especially because this was what he did well. Sythe, unlike his brothers, was at one with his beast. Well, he was until said beast set his sights on making the one woman Sythe couldn't have his. Harper Beaumont had been on his mind before he even knew who she was. She'd infiltrated his mind with the way she tasted after that night she called a moment of weakness. But she was forbidden. The niece of the man he was trying to ruin. What he didn't realise was that the same man was ruining her, and that's just something nor he or his beast would stand for. Harper was in his blood. She was his, and he'd do anything to protect her even if it cost him his mission.

Definitely Recommend Reading 📚
Profile Image for Littlebookishbirdie.
190 reviews7 followers
January 28, 2024
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🥀Enemies to lovers
💫Fated mates
🥀Forbidden romance
💫Dark romance
🥀Obsessive, “touch her and die” mmc

. . . . . .

Stroke of Shadows is the fifth book in the Curse of the Guardians series. All standalone books with this one revolving around Sythe who is going “dark” to infiltrate Beauchamps family. But he doesn’t expect to see Harper, the only girl to leave him wanting more.

This is the darkest story so far in my opinion. Harper’s past is traumatic and sad, it’s emotional and ongoing. Sythe has his own inner struggles and you get to watch these two heal through each other, learning to lean on each other because they have no one else.

You don’t get to see the Guardians as much or their mates but it’s because Sythe is on his own, fully emerged in the role he is playing. I always want more family time and to see the other characters again. But I always understand why we don’t.

It’s a slow burn but Sythe is obsessed. Harper is a strong, independent fmc trying to find a way to break away from her family’s toxic ways. Their love for each other is strong and passionate. You can feel the heat between these two and I’m obsessed!

The spice was well worth the wait. Sythe has a dirty mouth that I can’t get enough of with a pinch of praise tossed in there. Hands down, I loved this book. It’s my favorite. And the set up for Jay’s book? I cannot wait. This book did such a great job of setting up his book. I think we don’t see much of him before this so no one talks about Jay as much but after this, I’m so ready for his story!

This couple ended up being worth the wait. I loved exploring Sythe and Harper’s story. But I would check out the triggers before reading this one!
Profile Image for Brittney.
995 reviews44 followers
February 11, 2024
Stroke of Shadows by Taylor Aston White takes readers on a thrilling ride through the dark underbelly of London, where forbidden love and dangerous secrets reign supreme.

Harper, stifled by the oppressive control of her wealthy family and their strict church, yearns for freedom. When she defies expectations one fateful night, her world turns upside down, setting off a chain of events that could shatter everything she knows.

Enter Sythe, a man with a mission to infiltrate a notorious family. Harper, his target's niece, becomes an unexpected complication, drawing him in with her irresistible allure. As they navigate a treacherous landscape filled with daemons and power struggles, their attraction grows, defying all odds.

White's writing plunges readers into a world of darkness and intrigue, where passion and danger lurk around every corner. The chemistry between Sythe and Harper is electric, propelling the story forward with intensity and emotion.

Stroke of Shadows is a wild ride, filled with explicit content and gritty realism. But for those who enjoy a dark paranormal romance with a forbidden twist, this book is sure to satisfy.


#ARCReview #BookReview #ParanormalRomance #DarkRomance #ForbiddenLove #FoundFamily #BookRecommendation #Bookish #Bookstagrammer #BookishCommunity #AmReading #MustRead #BookLovers #BookAddict #BookObsessed #ReadersOfInstagram #NewBook #TaylorAstonWhite #StrokeOfShadows #BookBuzz #BookNerd #Bookworm #BookishLove #ReadingTime #BookReviewers #BookCommunity
Profile Image for Rachael Beckemeyer.
87 reviews7 followers
June 11, 2024
3.5 Stars

Damn! I wanted to love this book. Especially after how feral I went for the one before in the series. But it just was so hard to stick with. I struggled with the first half like I did for Kace and Eva's story. Part of what I didn't like was the lack of characters we already know in this book. I know that's intentional due to the story but still.

Ok, enough with the debbie downer nonsense. Here's what I did love about the story. I loved how Sythe from moment one realized who Harper is to him. He wasn't truly fighting that but he thought it would ruin everything and that scared him. He is one of those characters that has a VERY tough exterior but in reality is a hopeless romantic and you could tell he was excited that he found his mate even if that terrified him. I also liked that this story is actually taking place during the same time as book 4. We get to see the scenes from book 4 that Sythe is in from his perspective and that is really cool.

I understand that there needed to be a lot more character building in this one because of the lack of Sythe in the last few stories. Especially the last one, which makes sense now. I can't say I would read this one specifically again but I absolutely do appreciate it for what it is and would recommend it to many people. It's probably the easiest one to read as a stand alone if one chose to. Reading it as a stand alone would actually have probably made me rank it higher because as it's one book it's great! But as part of the whole series, it lacked connection until the last few chapters.
Profile Image for Sierra.
21 reviews
January 9, 2024
Delicious spice AND plot… the best of both worlds 🙌
I devoured this book. It’s dark, but not so dark that you’ll need a palate cleanser. Read the TWs if you’re sensitive. If you like a little dark with your paranormal romance then hop on and enjoy the ride!

This is book #5 in the Curse Of The Guardians series. The Guardians have my heart and Sythe and Harper’s story was so perfectly done. I wasn’t sure if this one could top Heart of Crimson before I delved in. I loved Titus and Rae’s story the most out of the first four books. But I quickly realized Stroke of Shadows is in its own gem class.
The character development was so well executed. The more I learned about both Sythe and Harper individually the more they got my heart. So by the end you become utterly invested in their HEA.

While Sythe was battling the echos of his own horrible past as he went deep undercover, Harper is battling her own hell… daily.

One of my fav highlights while reading (although I have many other spicy ones):

“He wanted to burn the world just so she didn’t have to feel so exposed, the urge almost as violent as the need to press his lips to hers. To distract himself from the secrets she held so tightly to her chest.”

While this can be read as a standalone do yourself a solid and start with book 1.
You won’t regret it. 😉
Profile Image for Lauren O'Connor.
29 reviews
February 3, 2024
I got to read this book as a ARC reader!! Super excited I got that opportunity because it combines my two fav genres right now, romantasy and dark romance.

I haven’t read the other standalone books in this series. That didn’t interfere at all with me following the story. There were some characters at the end I could tell I was maybe supposed to be familiar with but overall this holds up as a standalone. I will say that the world building has a lot of elements that were a little confusing to keep up with, but I probably would have understood them better if I had read the first four books.

I gave this book three stars meaning I liked it! It was a solid fun read. I like how many different types of Breed there are, that makes for a fun world to explore I feel like. The inciting event between the MMC and FMC was a little far-fetched for my taste given how sheltered the FMC is supposed to be though. There were also times where I had trouble connecting with Sythe a little bit and wished I got more reasons why he was so enthralled by Harper (aside from an expected reveal at the end) and those kinds of things were the only reasons I gave a three rather than a four.

Overall I liked the pace of the story, I liked the fantasy world elements, it had the perfect amount of dark and sexy stuff going on, and the end was exciting and satisfying. Would recommend as a fun casual read!
Profile Image for Toni.
2,373 reviews24 followers
February 14, 2024
Sythe and his brothers are trying to take down the Church of the Light local leaders, the Beauchamps. He decided to go undercover and spent time building up his persona. Now he has an in with the son of the leader. While he was preparing he met Harper. She was at the bar to meet a client and he hit on her. She's all in until she has to leave for her meeting. She desperately wants to get away but remembers the last time she tried. She watched as her uncle and his men beat up the family that gave her haven then watched as they burned their house with them inside. She also received a tatoo from that incident done to punish her.
Now Sythe is hanging with Wyatt Beauchamp hoping to get info that will let him and his brothers and their group take out the Church of the Light. At a party is where he meets up with the mystery woman he met. Oh big NO NO when he finds out she's family. Only Sythe is holding a secret that he wants no part of. He is being pressed to take over leadership of the Guardians.
One woman who wants out of her family, one Guardian who wants nothing to do with leading the Guardians, a Beauchamps heir who is focused on finding a special cup. The players are set, the scene is playing out. Who will win? Who will lose?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1 review
February 5, 2024
'I never said I was the good guy' 🌹

I didn't believe Taylor could top the last book but she sure did! I am obsessed with Sythe and Harper.
Every book in this series is the perfect dark blend of world building, plot & spice!
This book can be read as a standalone but do yourself a favour and let more guardians into your life! You won't regret it, with each book in this series I fall more in love with the magical world Taylor has created and the need to know more about the underlying story between them all.
I love meeting each guardian and seeing the strong possessive guardians fall for their fierce mates and then getting to see glimps of them in each book.
This one was no different I loved the way we got to see Harper and Sythe develope as they both battled their own versions of hell and we got to see how perfect they are for each other. Sythe officially has my heart he is protective and fiercely loyal, and would kill to protect his loved ones. Harper was so strong and she really got to grow and learn what it's like to be loved.

I can't wait for the next book to dive more into this world! Im looking forward to seeing more of Jax and of course getting one book closer to getting Lucys story ❤️
Profile Image for Haley Babin.
32 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2024
Shifter guardians, demons/ angels, fae, secret society, violence, cult like church, magic, fated mates, and spice⛪️🐺☠️✨

What more could you ask for in this unique world where the MFC, Harper, is abused and has to serve her family and so called church calling by uncovering artifacts and paintings. Lots of family lies and trauma along with dark acts and dealings that the family does in the eyes of their Gods. The MMC, Sythe, is part of a guardian group and is undercover to finish the job of bringing this corrupted family down. But that all gets much more difficult after finding out his little mystery woman is a part of this family and he cannot just let her go. Will Sythe be able to continue his mission or will she get in the way not that he minds? Will Harper figure out what her mystery man is up to and if the burning desire between them means more than just her looks along with trying to escape the toxic family she’s trapped in?
I did not read any of the other books in this series and you do not have to but if you’re able to start with Book 1 then it would probably help tie in each of the Guardians stories. But I still never felt lost and knew this would be a standalone series. After reading Book 5, I cannot wait to read the other books and see what’s in store for the rest of the Guardians🖤❤️‍🔥
Profile Image for Shelves_by_sim.
593 reviews8 followers
January 18, 2024
I am absolutely obsessed with this series! Every book, every new MMC has me falling in love a little more and I just knew that Sythe would steal my heart. I am a sucker for a paranormal romance, I love shifters and magic and the urban vibes this series gives and everything about it is just perfect.

Taylor is an amazing author, I never find any fault with her writing or they way she builds a story. The plot is so well done, it's always fresh and interesting and never what I expect - and I think that's really hard to do in a world that centres around the same circle of people with a common enemy.

Her FMCs are always badass and there's nothing I love more than a stubborn, smart-mouthed character. And I loved Harper. As always, the side characters play such good roles in each book, their interactions are funny and witty and set up perfectly for their own books!

I loved Sythe and Harper's story, I love every aspect of the mating bond in these books and to experience the different ways each of her characters find theirs is wonderful. I loved Harper's career too, locating and collecting rare pieces is such a cool thing to do, it's edgy and a little dangerous and totally unique.

I am so glad that I joined Taylor's ARC team months ago, I don't know where I would be without this series ingrained in my heart. I can't wait for what's next and I'm still crossing my fingers that Lucifer gets his own book because I'm kind of in love with that demon!
Profile Image for Mandy.
188 reviews9 followers
February 11, 2024
I have had the pleasure of receiving and ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I made sure I read the entire series before I completed this and I can tell you, they get better and better with each installment and Stroke of Shadows really shows off that growth.

This book is so heavy. It tackles some serious topics and is incredibly tense. Aston White's Guardians world keeps developing and get more and more immersive and intense, and SoS is a great force. Every time I read one of these books, the FMC bleeds my heart and Harper is no exception. In fact, she probably gets to me the most and I love her dearly. Scythe is an amazing character who has many sides and none of them feel forced. Even the villains in this novel are darker, heavier, and more intense.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat with my heart strangled in my chest. The spice is top notch. Scythe is the sēxîest Guardian so far, his way with words had me sweating (and I'm ace). Stroke of Shadows is 10/10, 5 stars, a book I want to frame on my shelves
Profile Image for Anij.
1,327 reviews12 followers
February 29, 2024
"She's mine. I'm not going to hurt her."

Holy moly! What can I say about this book that isn't some kind of spoiler? First and foremost, it's fantastic! After Kiss of Darkness it's my new second favorite in the series. Sythe really suprised me. He's been so low keyed compared to the others that I had no idea just how much he was hiding. I absolutely loved him! Harper. Wow. What a sad life. She sure fits in with the other fmc in the series. Let's be honest, every one of them has had a really crappy past. For some reason she seems the most vulnerable and I felt very bad for her.

There's a ton of plot, which Taylor always gives us and I had to really pay attention while I was reading. I can't imagine trying to do it without reading at least a couple of the other books in the series. While this book isn't as dark as some of the prior ones it's still definitely not light. And if you have any triggers this probably isn't a great choice. If you don't, then go for it! Just like me, you're going to love it!!
Profile Image for Amy Laudick.
165 reviews3 followers
February 12, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is book five of the Curse of the Guardians series. It can be read as a stand-alone book but why would you not read all of them? The series takes place in a paranormal London with daemons, shifters and fae, each book tells the story of one of the Guardians. Book five is about Sythe (a guardian shifter) and Harper. Harper is a member of a very corrupt, wealthy family that belongs to a cult like church and Slythe has been assigned to take them down. Will his mating bond with Harper get in the way? Will Harper find out who she really is and act on her burning desire to be with Slythe?

Each book in this series is a quick and easy read with plenty of spice, romance and adventure.
As always Taylor Aston White did not disappoint with her 5th installment of the Curse of the Guardians series, and I am hoping for a future Lucy book!
Profile Image for Megan Butchard.
64 reviews2 followers
February 29, 2024
This was the first book that I have read from this author and even though it took me a bit to get use to the writing style, I started really getting into the story. Yes, yes, I know this is book five in the series but I didn't feel like I was missing too much when I was reading as the author went over a lot of information that I could have missed from the first books. Now if I was reading this in order, that may have been a bit repetitive but could be a good refresher if you took breaks between the books.

Scythe was my fav, with his slightly cocky attitude and watching his obsession grow for Harper. As for Harper, I wanted to shake some sense into her but as you find out more and more about her and her past, you understand her motives.

I look forward to reading more from this series and learning about all the brothers in the group.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
588 reviews
March 3, 2024
So I finished this book in about 5 hours. That’s pretty much nuff’ said but this book is too good to not expand. I’m glad that the overarching plot is becoming clearer and I really enjoyed getting to know Sythe. He’s been such an enigma in the series until now since he was always “going dark”. This was definitely a dark book. All of them in this series have but this one particularly was horrible. I don’t know how Harper came out of it even close to sane. I know many are calling Sythe the “shadow daddy” but I don’t see him like that. He’s too light somehow despite his ability to travel through the shadows. It’s not that he jokes a lot but there’s still a lightness to his character which considering Harper’s situation is a good thing. This book is balanced.

On another note: I am soooooo looking forward to Jax and Harper’s book. That is going to be hilarious watching him try to keep up with her. He’s definitely going to try to lock her up with those special cuffs of his at some point.
Profile Image for Rachel Barger.
7 reviews
January 8, 2024
Before reading Stroke of Shadows I was like ok lets see what Sythe is all about.
Well let me tell you... Sythe is an icon and I can read about 5 more books about him.
I loved that this book is like a side timeline to the last book Heart of Crimson because there was some cameo action of Rae and Titus.
The relationship between Sythe and Harper gives forbidden love, but not as extreme.
However, Sythe did say and I quote "She was untouchable, like fucking royalty." So you know...

Anyway... away from the romance.

Sythe is working undercover to continue solving the issues with the church. I enjoyed seeing the inner working of how the Guardian works. Harper is a part of the family working with the church against her will. The two find an alliance (kind of?).

So basically 10/10 and I just went through this book like it was nothing.
Profile Image for Between The Covers .
467 reviews13 followers
January 10, 2024
This is my first book by Taylor Aston White, and let's just say I am not disappointed at all. This was a gripping story all the way through. It has an amazing plot, and the spice is perfect. I'd love to read more books just on Sythe!

This is a dark book but not overly dark. There are TWs, so please be sure to read them before reading the book.


While Sythe is battling his own past and things even now, Harper is living in a literal hell daily, and she's struggling to find a way out safely. Will Sythe be able to help her escape from her life of trauma and help her learn to live her life?

You'll just have to find out for yourself and see!

**this is book 5 of the Curse Of The Guardian series and can be read as a standalone!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Paula Martin.
169 reviews10 followers
January 31, 2024


This is my first journey into the world of the "Guardians" and I wasn't disappointed. This book can be read as a stand alone or part of the series. TA White sets you up perfectly to enter this paranormal world with a disclaimer, summary and both a Breed and Shadow-Veyn index and a short summary that allows a first time reader for this series to follow along.

A Dark fantasy slow burn spicy romance with a possessive MMC and a strong FMC. The chemistry between the two jumps off the page leaving you craving more. The story line takes you deep into the darkest parts of the "Guardians" world.


I highly recommend this book.

Welcome to the world of the "Guardians"

"You need to tell me to leave. Because if you don't, in mot going to stop at just a kiss."
Because a single taste wasn't enough.
He wasn't sure it would ever be enough.
Profile Image for Samantha K.O. Hanson.
58 reviews3 followers
February 5, 2024
This was a fun, spicy, dark, romantasy. I absolutely loved Sythe’s character, I mean a shifter who’s also a shadow daddy? A “monster” who is willing to burn it all down and kill everyone for looking at his girl, but is beyond respectful of her boundaries and desires?Yes please, I’ll take two! While Harper isn’t a strong FMC in a traditional sense, I felt like her strength is revealed as the story develops. I felt like the world building didn’t quite kick in until halfway through the book, but I also understand I read this as a standalone (which you can without being totally lost) despite it being part of a series. I feel like that contributed a bit to a few things I didn’t piece together until further into the story. Overall an enjoyable read. Can’t wait to dive into the others.

Spice 3.5/5
1 review
January 15, 2024
Stroke of Shadows is A Dark Paranormal Romance of quite the intriguing erotic paranormal genre.
The novel explores an electric, magnetic , tantalising and tumultuous connection between the two main characters Harper and Sythe. This especially was the case in their early interactions including when they first met at the Club and passion had been ignited between the pair.

Harper is a vessel , a means for her family to atone for their mistakes and so they will inflict pain on her. Sythe ends up working for Harpers family and as a result more opportunities arise for both Harper and Sythe to have further interactions.
Throughout the novel it becomes very apparent that Sythe is deeply attracted to Harper whilst Harper is trying to fight which is proving quite difficult since Sythe is working for her uncle and sees Harper regularly whilst also posing as a bodyguard.

Note for publisher : Page 58 " My cleric like to be informed". Correction, " My cleric likes to be informed".

My reflections is that I found this novel to be quite captivating and interesting. I thoroughly found pleasure in reading the content written within the pages and quite honestly must say that it continued to keep me entranced and looking forward to the next page.
The author had a great storyline and did well with providing scenarios which keeps the readers on their toes. Overall, I was pleasantly satisfied with this novel and would most certainly recommend it to others.
Well done and congratulations on an amazing novel ,Taylor.
1 review
February 13, 2024
She did it again, Taylor Aston White once again wrote one page turner of a book!
I absolutely love the story of Harper and Sythe and their chemistry. The plottwists left and right, the tension, the spice, the Guardinas back together, everything. I loved everything in this book and I think Sythe took the crown from Kace and Titus as my favourite Guardian with his charisma and wit. He and Harper had me at the edge of my seat for two days straight, hoping, laughing and crying as i followed their story through the depths of corruption, fear and underground deals.
If you liked any of the other Guardian books, you will love this one too.
10/10 would recommend!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for SBee Reviews.
2,664 reviews81 followers
March 8, 2024
★ “She wasn’t allowed to be a person right then. ..”. ★

“She had to be a vessel for the pain of her family.” I jumped eagerly into the series with this fifth installment and let myself be drawn into this author’s extensive and well-crafted world, where the supernatural meets occult in an engaging manner. Going deep undercover, Sythe soon realizes that there is much more to Harper Beauchamp than her beauty, and that her family’s devotion to the Church of Light may just be her detriment. Time is running out for him to complete his mission…and to save the one woman who has become his everything. Must go back and catch up on this series, so I will be ready to continue the tantalizing thread of the next couple’s story!
Profile Image for Ines Gray.
Author 1 book8 followers
June 9, 2024
A great addition to the series. I’ve enjoyed all of the Curse of the Guardians novels. Sythe and Harper’s story is entertaining. Harper is basically a prisoner in her uncle and cousin’s home, let out only under strict guard, but luckily Sythe has infiltrated the family’s security while undercover. The spice, tension, and entertainment is high. As always, I love Taylor Aston White’s world building. She introduced a few new fae’s and celestial’s in this book which added to the creativity. I love how she intertwines characters from previous novels and upcoming novels. Lucy is always a fun secondary character (I have a suspicion about who his counterpart might be in the last book.) If you enjoy paranormal/fantasy romance with action and spice, read this series.
Profile Image for Kell X.
312 reviews6 followers
January 9, 2024
Well, I was already missing this world. 

This was a forbidden love story, with some inicial distrust, but insta lust! Both caracters were really relatable and through their experiences, and yes trauma, bonded. 

I just wish there was more interaction with the other characters we know and love, but once you read the book, you will understand why it had to be that way. I really like all the bickering between all of them :)

This found family is amazing and gives hope for when the birth one isn't just right. 


I read that Jax's story is next. And... I can't wait!!!! Also.. I really want to read Lucy's story too! 

Taylor, how fast can you write?


4.5* for me 💫💫💫💫
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